A day beyond imagination

Induction draws Puckett's smile, Mazeroski's tears

August 06, 2001|By Phil Rogers, Tribune baseball reporter.

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — On a warm, sunny day along the Susquehanna River, Kirby Puckett finished the eventful journey that began in a Chicago ghetto. He stood at a podium, in front of childhood heroes Ernie Banks and Willie Mays, mopping sweat from his forehead as he looked out at a pasture filled with baseball fans.

The sight must have been as far beyond Puckett's childhood imagination as upstate New York is from 4444 S. State St., where he lived on the 14th floor of a public-housing high-rise at the Robert Taylor Homes. The player teammates called "Puck," a 5-foot-8-inch man with a smile big enough for a giant, offered proof that the American dream survives in unlikely places.

"It doesn't matter where you come from," Puckett said. "It doesn't matter what race, what creed you are ... whether you're black, white, Japanese, whatever. It doesn't matter. It just matters how you play the game."

Few players have ever had more fun playing baseball than Puckett. The former Minnesota Twins center fielder was rewarded for 12 all-out seasons with a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame's class of 2001.

In voting last winter, Puckett became only the second native of the city of Chicago selected for the Hall. He's the first elected by the regular membership of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Longtime New York Giants third baseman Freddy Lindstrom was picked by the Committee on Veterans in 1976.

Dave Winfield, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski and Negro leagues pitcher Hilton Smith were also inducted into the Hall on Sunday. Like Puckett, the well-traveled Winfield (3,110 hits and 465 homers with San Diego, the New York Yankees and four other teams) was a first-ballot selection by the BBWAA. The veterans committee named Mazeroski and Smith.

The moment of the day belonged to the 64-year-old Mazeroski, who broke down 90 seconds into a prepared speech and called it quits after 2 1/2 minutes. Mazeroski was overcome as he thanked friends and family for traveling long distances to attend the ceremony.

Mazeroski said he wanted to thank them for coming "to hear me say this [stuff]." Then he abruptly sat down and returned the microphone to emcee George Grande. There were loud cheers from the sun-baked crowd of about 23,000, who had just listened to a 23-minute speech by Winfield.

Puckett was the last of the four Hall of Famers to get a look at his plaque. He was the one most of the fans had come to hear.

Twelve busloads of fans came from Minnesota, where Puckett helped the Twins win World Series titles in 1987 and '91. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of fans wearing Twins shirts or jerseys with Puckett's No. 34. The crowd chanted "Kirby, Kirby, Kirby" before a montage of his career was played on a large video screen.

In the video, Twins manager Tom Kelly shared the story of Puckett telling teammates to climb on his back before Game 6 of the '91 World Series. He saved the game by robbing Atlanta's Ron Gant of an extra-base hit and then won it with an 11th-inning homer off Charlie Liebrandt. Former teammate Dan Gladden spoke of Puckett's relentless optimism.

"Everybody has a sad song to cry," Gladden said. "Not once will you hear Kirby sing it."

Puckett won four batting titles and six Gold Gloves in his career. He was named to the American League All-Star team 10 times. Yet how many more highlights might there have been had glaucoma in his right eye not forced him into retirement after 1995 when, at 34, he hit .314 with 23 homers and 99 RBIs?

Puckett lets others do the math. "It may be cloudy in my right eye," Puckett said, "but the sun is shining very brightly in my left eye."

In addition to his play, Puckett will forever be remembered for his outlook. The plaque that was placed along those of 252 other Hall of Famers on Sunday night refers to his "infectious exuberance."

Puckett said his lone regret was not being able to share his induction with his parents, Catherine and William, who, like brothers Donnie and Spencer, are deceased. His father worked two jobs to feed nine children but always found money to buy Kirby, the youngest of his children, a new glove every birthday.

Puckett did not play organized baseball until he was 12, after his family moved from the Taylor Homes to 79th and Wolcott.

"My mom's probably looking down thinking about all those spankings she gave me for breaking windows, breaking lamps, everything in the house [with baseballs]," Puckett said. "I want to tell her, `Hey, Mom, I hope you can see it was worth it. Your little baby is going into the Hall of Fame.'"

Puckett thanked his brother Ronnie for looking out for him. "He followed my mom's orders to make sure her little kid's clothes never got dirty," he said. "I wore the cleanest clothes in the ghetto."

Puckett was drafted by the Twins in 1982 out of Triton College. He played for Calumet High School and attended Bradley University for a season before transferring to Triton after the death of his father.